reading and writing about why we work

09/24/2016

Physics Textbooks Play Games with my Learning: The Convoluted Language Edition

The book I chose is called College Physics: A strategic Approach and it introduces the beginning concepts of the higher level physics required in architectural engineering. This textbook covers everything from “Force and Motion” to the basic theories of “Modern Physics”, such as quantum physics and relativity (1). What this book does is prepare the physics student with the foundational theories necessary to succeed in the higher level applied physics courses of engineering; by learning these concepts future engineers can more effectively calculate the precise measurements necessary to create and develop new technologies. While this book holds a plethora of pertinent knowledge for me, it doesn’t particularly seem like an interesting or engaging read. In my experience, physics textbooks tend to drag out concepts and explain theories in overly verbose and convoluted manners that make reading them a complete pain in the ass. Often times I find myself getting lost in the explanations that seem to have no relevancy to the mathematical equations presented, and for those reasons I don’t look forward to or hope to read this book. Like taking thick grape flavored medicine, I know it’d be good for me, but that doesn’t meant I’d enjoy any of the experience, and the same applies for College Physics: A Strategic Approach.